[Electronics-talk] [nfb-talk] National Federation oftheBlindResponds to Authors Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

David Evans drevans at bellsouth.net
Mon Feb 16 17:44:04 UTC 2009 

Dear All,

This points out the fact that we need to work on getting the Copywrite law 
ammended so that every time a book is copywrited, there must also be an 
electronic copy presented as well.  That copy should be placed in the hands 
of someplace like the Talking Book Library and each user of the library is 
issued a users code for their use only.
The format of the electronic copy should then be such as to limit access 
only to those users who are listed with the library.
In this way, all new books and even books going into re-print or next 
edition would, over time, become accessible to everyone.
The electronic format would need to be translateable in to other formats 
such as Braille and this is where it gets sticky.  I do believe that it can 
be done and that it should be done.

David Evans, NFBF
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <ckrugman at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 5:33 AM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] [nfb-talk] National Federation 
oftheBlindResponds to Authors Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2


> Hopefully that issue will be resoslved favorably in the future so there 
> will
> be equal access for such products.
> Chuck
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Charlie Richardson" <charlieofalbany at hotmail.com>
> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 3:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] [nfb-talk] National Federation of
> theBlindResponds to Authors Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
>
>> Hey, watch that suing Amazon.com out of existence.  I buy hundreds of
>> items from them per year and none are books.  The I'm no lawyer, but I
>> don't think the ADA applies to all electronic devices such as the Kindle,
>> because if it did then everything in existence would have talking
>> features.
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Gerald Levy" <bwaylimited at verizon.net>
>> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 10:48 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] [nfb-talk] National Federation of the
>> BlindResponds to Authors Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>
>>
>>>
>>> I'm with you 100% on this one, Ray.  Blind folks must have the same
>>> access to books and other printed documents as their sighted peers. 
>>> It's
>>> the law. Apparently, thede self-righteous nit-wits have never heard of
>>> the Americans With Disabilities Act.  I hope the NFB sues them out of
>>> existence.
>>>
>>> Gerald
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Ray Foret jr" <rforetjr at comcast.net>
>>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:55 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] [nfb-talk] National Federation of the
>>> BlindResponds to Authors Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>>
>>>
>>>>I can't help but wonder.  Has the Author's guild had their heads buried
>>>>in
>>>> the sand since 1934 or earlier?  Could they honestly be so stupid as to
>>>> not
>>>> have ever been aware of public law 89-522?  Were they un-aware that, 
>>>> for
>>>> years, we, the blind, have been using talking books beginning in 1934
>>>> with
>>>> vinyl phonograph records and with cassettes beginning at least in 1967
>>>> or
>>>> so?  Wince comes this crazy outlandish statement that reading books
>>>> allowed
>>>> is a violation of copy right?  Are they really and consciously against
>>>> the
>>>> blind; or, perhaps just un-aware?  Well, what ever the case may happen
>>>> to
>>>> be, perhaps they will awaken to their senses now that we have responded
>>>> in
>>>> this fashion.  If not, then what?  Do we sue the entire author's guild;
>>>> or,
>>>> just target those individuals directly responsible for making that
>>>> statement?  Something just strikes me all wrong about this sudden
>>>> declaration upon the part of the author's guild; I mean really, that
>>>> they
>>>> should now just come right strait out and say that reading books 
>>>> allowed
>>>> is
>>>> a violation of copy right.  Smacks of prudential arrogance, in my 
>>>> humble
>>>> opinion!!!  I also can't help but wonder.  How would they feel if one 
>>>> of
>>>> their members went blind and did not want to or could not (for what 
>>>> ever
>>>> reason) learn Braille?  Ah, then what?  Mind you, I don't wish that on
>>>> any
>>>> of their members; still and all, part of me can't help but ask the
>>>> question.
>>>> What next if they resist?  Well, no doubt we'll be taking further 
>>>> action
>>>> I
>>>> dare speculate.  I guess it gets harder "at the top of the stairs"; so
>>>> to
>>>> speak.  Most of me would, as I say, prefer to believe that this is a
>>>> case of
>>>> mere ignorance on their parts; but, somehow, I just cannot bring myself
>>>> to
>>>> that conclusion.  in the end, I'm coming down on the side that it's not
>>>> accidental or ignorance; rather, it's a deliberate attack upon all the
>>>> blind; and, for that matter, the sited illiterate of this country.  I'd
>>>> rather peace, but, if it's war they want, damn it, let's go to war!!!!!
>>>>
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>> The Constantly BAREFOOTED Ray
>>>>
>>>> "Old friend, what are you looking for?  After those many years abroad
>>>> you
>>>> come With images you tended Under foreign skies Far away from your own
>>>> land"
>>>> George Seferis
>>>>
>>>> Phone or Fax::
>>>> +1 (985) 360-3375
>>>> e-mail:
>>>> rforetjratcomcastdotnet
>>>> Skype Name:
>>>> barefootedray
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: "Freeh,Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)"
>>>> <JFreeh at nfb.org>
>>>> To: <david.andrews at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 9:38 PM
>>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to 
>>>> Authors
>>>> Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>>>>
>>>> CONTACT:
>>>> Chris Danielsen
>>>> Director of Public Relations
>>>> National Federation of the Blind
>>>> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>>>> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
>>>> <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>>>>
>>>> National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild
>>>> Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>>>>
>>>> Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of
>>>> the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United
>>>> States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild
>>>> advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting
>>>> e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which
>>>> incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues that
>>>> the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright
>>>> infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted
>>>> permission for the book to be read aloud.
>>>>
>>>> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
>>>> said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all technologies
>>>> that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word,
>>>> including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read commercial
>>>> e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors
>>>> Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind,
>>>> its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the
>>>> Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that
>>>> having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home or
>>>> vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use
>>>> readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not
>>>> available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until now,
>>>> no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild
>>>> says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other
>>>> readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format
>>>> that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as
>>>> long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather
>>>> than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in private
>>>> is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud
>>>> in private is never an infringement of copyright.
>>>>
>>>> "Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including
>>>> text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new Kindle
>>>> 2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself
>>>> cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls
>>>> to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and
>>>> therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this
>>>> situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device
>>>> that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing
>>>> so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new
>>>> book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ###
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> About the National Federation of the Blind
>>>>
>>>> With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
>>>> is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
>>>> people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives
>>>> through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
>>>> encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force
>>>> in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In
>>>> January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind
>>>> Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the
>>>> United States for the blind led by the blind.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
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